football pet peeves

[idontlikerocks]

here's one of my football pet peeves: when a team is down by 15 in the fourth quarter and they score a touchdown, they often kick the extra point to make it an 8 point game.... I want them to go for the two pointer NOW. If i were the coach, i want to know right away whether i am going to need 1 more score or 2.. i have yet to see a coach do this. what i have seen is coaches getting the extra point and then scoring another touchdown with a minute left on the clock, having used all their timeouts, only to have the 2 pointer fail. wouldn't it be better to know with 7 minutes left or 5 minutes left that you are down 9 and need 2 scores or are down 7 and just need 1.? i've got a few more football pet peeves but i'd like to hear some of yours.......

[Wheell]

Well, the trade off is this: Do you want the knowledge of whether or not the try will succeed? Or do you want the assurance that you team will feel like it has momentum? My guess is on average the knowledge is worth more than the momentum, but I can at least see the case for each choice.

Better question: You were down 14 but have just scored a touchdown late in the 4th quarter. Go for 1 or 2?

[DrunkenLullaby]

Of course you're 100% right on this, but inevitably some morons will show up giving the same rationale that bone-headed coaches use. - something about not wanting their team to lose morale if they fail to get the 2 pts then and are still down by 2 scores. Completely invalid argument mathetmatically, but it's AMAZING how many people believe it.

[Wheell]

Drunken: If you assume that there is no chance of you getting 3 scores then is doesn't matter when you go for 2. Furthermore while the knowledge is definitely worth a lot to you it is unclear how much it is worth to your opposition.

[DrunkenLullaby]

Drunken: If you assume that there is no chance of you getting 3 scores then is doesn't matter when you go for 2. Furthermore while the knowledge is definitely worth a lot to you it is unclear how much it is worth to your opposition.

I'm not sure what your point is. Did you think I agree with these coaches? Of course there is always a chance to get 3 scores. The probability approaches zero as the clock approaches zero and this is exactly why you need to find out as soon as possible how many scores you still need.

[Wheell]

What I am saying is that if there is a chance for three scores the knowledge is worth something, and if there isn't it isn't. However, the real issue occurs when 3 scores is possible. There the knowledge probably outweighs the risk of momentum loss and the fact that your opponent also knows how many scores you need.

[DrunkenLullaby]

and the fact that your opponent also knows how many scores you need.

Actually, from all the football I've ever watched, I surmise that the more scores I need, the more likely my opponent is to make the wrong decision (i.e. the "prevent" defense), so I believe there's actually anti-correlation working in my favor in this situation.